Mail Receptacles Regulations (SOR/83-743)

Letter Chutes

• 1 Every letter chute shall

  • (a) be constructed of rust resisting materials;

  • (b) have an interior designed to present a continuous free flowing surface, unencumbered by any bracket or protruding joint that could cause stoppage;

  • (c) extend through each storey of the building in a continuous vertical line from the point of its beginning down to a mail dispatching facility;

  • (d) be installed in a location where it will be conveniently accessible throughout its entire length for the removal of obstructions and for cleaning purposes;

  • (e) be fitted on each storey with a locking device that, when unlocked, will permit free access to all portions of the chute’s interior on that storey;

  • (f) have a clear plate glass cover on its front portion sufficiently exposing the interior of the chute to permit easy observance of any obstruction except that the front portion of the chute in the lobby area or main floor of the building may consist of material other than glass if the chute is constructed to permit access to its interior at that point;

  • (g) be equipped at each storey above the main floor with a letter slot designed to permit the insertion of letters only;

  • (h) be clearly marked with the words “Letters-Lettres” at or near each letter slot; and

  • (i) be provided with a readily visible, glazed notice frame near the letter slot on each storey capable of containing a notice setting out the hours of collection by a post office representative.

Mail Dispatching Facilities

• • 2 (1) A mail dispatching facility that is a receptacle shall

    • (a) be located at the base of a letter chute except as provided in subsection (4);

    • (b) be located as near as possible to the main entrance of the building at a location approved by the Corporation;

    • (c) be accessible to the public at least during the business hours of the building in which it is installed;

    • (d) be equipped with a door that

      • (i) hangs on side hinges with peened pins and fastened by weld, solder or rivets, and

      • (ii) is fitted with an official letter box lock obtained from the Corporation;

    • (e) be equipped on its bottom with a non-flammable elastic cushion or other non-flammable resilient material that is level with the threshold of the door;

    • (f) contain hooks suitably located to hold the satchel or receptacle used by the post office representative;

    • (g) be installed in such a manner that the bottom of the receptacle is approximately 75 cm from the finished floor and the space between the bottom of the receptacle and the floor is open and unobstructed;

    • (h) subject to subsection (2), contain a mailing slot of the standard letter size;

    • (i) be clearly marked with the words “Letters-Lettres” at or near the letter slot or with the words “Mail-Courrier” if a large mailing slot is installed; and

    • (j) have a metal plate or glazed notice frame securely affixed to its door or upper front portion that is capable of containing the notice referred to in paragraph 1(i) of this Schedule.

  • (2) In lieu of the standard letter size of opening, a mail dispatching facility may have an opening large enough to accept items of mailable matter larger than letters if

    • (a) the mailing slot conforms to the general size and baffle design of the regular standing mail receptacle used by the Corporation; and

    • (b) the mail dispatching facility is large enough to accommodate mailable matter in sufficient volume that the facility does not require a greater frequency of clearance than mail dispatching facilities in the surrounding area.

  • (3) In addition to a mail dispatching facility at the base of a letter chute another mail dispatching facility may be installed by the owner of the building, in which case that mail dispatching facility shall

    • (a) be located adjacent to the base of the letter chute;

    • (b) be large enough to accommodate bundles of mailable matter and bulky mailable matter that cannot be inserted in the mail dispatching facility at the base of the chute in sufficient volume that the facility does not require a greater frequency of clearance than mail dispatching facilities in the surrounding area;

    • (c) have a slot for mail that conforms to the general size and baffle design of the regular standing mail dispatching facility used by the Corporation; and

    • (d) be clearly marked with the words “Mail-Courrier”.

  • (4) A separate mail dispatching facility without a letter chute may be installed by the owner of the building if the installation conforms to paragraphs (1)(b) to (j).

  • (5) A mail dispatching facility that is a mail room shall

    • (a) be located at the base of a letter chute except as provided in subsection (6);

    • (b) be designed so that the letter chute will empty into it at a point not less than 110 cm above the floor of the mail room;

    • (c) be located on either the main floor or lower floor, at a location approved by the Corporation, where it will be conveniently accessible to a post office representative;

    • (d) be large enough to

      • (i) accommodate mailable matter in sufficient volume that the facility does not require a greater frequency of clearance than other mail dispatching facilities in the surrounding area,

      • (ii) provide adequate working space for post office representatives who may be required to perform functions on behalf of the Corporation therein, and

      • (iii) accommodate a bag rack and other equipment that may be supplied by the Corporation;

    • (e) be provided with adequate lighting;

    • (f) have a suitable door that is fitted with a lock obtained from the Corporation;

    • (g) contain at least one mailing slot of the type authorized in subsection 2(2) that

      • (i) is conveniently located in the wall but not in the door of the mail room,

      • (ii) is accessible to the public at least during the business hours of the building in which the facility is located,

      • (iii) is large enough to permit the insertion of bundles of mailable matter and bulky mailable matter, and

      • (iv) conforms to the general size and baffle design of the regular standing mail receptacle of the Corporation;

    • (h) be clearly marked with the words “Mail-Courrier”, at or near the mailing slot; and

    • (i) have a metal plate or glazed notice frame securely affixed to its wall, adjacent to the mailing slot, that is capable of containing the notice referred to in paragraph 1(i) of this Schedule.

  • (6) Where a mail dispatching facility that is a mail room cannot be located at the base of a letter chute, the mail room may be situated at another location in the building in which case it shall conform to paragraphs (5)(c) to (i).